Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Charity Bradford, author of The Magic Wakes, tagged me for a Q & A session. Her book is an
amazing tale of sci-fi fantasy. She's working on the second in the series in
between raising a family of four and helping anyone and everyone who needs her.
With the precious few minutes she has left, (I think somewhere between 10:30
and 10:45 pm) she is writing a knockout YA also.

What are you working
on right now?

Book Two of The Magic Withheld. As every writer knows,
sometimes the characters take the reins and kick the horse into a different
direction. I was shocked when Bert decided to go his own way and not follow my
well-laid path.

How does it differ
from other works in its genre?

No wands, charms, and spells in my magical world. Nothing made
in a black kettle surrounded by witches. In fact, there are no witches or
warlocks in my novels. They are wizards, mages, or adepts, male and female.

What experiences have
influenced you?

The first book that caused the Wow Factor was Robert
Heinlein’s Have Spacesuit Will Travel.
Then I found the short story by Arthur C. Clarke called The Star. People, if you have an ounce of appreciation for science
fiction, read this one. Even now, I get chills thinking of it.

How does your writing
process work?

Ideas come to me when my mind is clear. Driving down the road,
half asleep, running on the treadmill. Unfortunately, none of those lends well
to writing. I did install a shelf for my treadmill however. Works darn good.

What is the hardest
part about writing?

I evolved from loathing dialogue to loving it more than narrative.
The hardest part of writing is trying not to fall into research too thoroughly.
The internet and all its minions is hard to ignore.

What would you like
to try as a writer that you haven't yet?

YA. It seems only natural to dip my toe into those waters. After
that, Sci-fi.

What scares
you?

Nothing. Most things run...if they show good sense. My sign
on the front door says:

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Justus Aubre is a wilder. A mage unbound to the Imperium, and therefore a dangerous wild card in their eyes. The Imperium wants him, wants his power, but Justus has hidden for many years and now has some semblance of a normal life. All that’s about to change when Sable Rounds walks through the door of his antique shop, looking for work. Justus instantly knows what Sable is, he just doesn't know the danger he’s in.Alone, also on the run from the Imperium, Sable longs for a normal life. For somewhere to belong. She finds this when Justus hires her, but she knows it’s temporary and fragile, an illusion. Though she hates to think about it, she knows that one day she will have to move on.The Imperium is always behind her, waiting. When they finally find Sable, they find Justus. And all hell’s about to break loose.

Book trailer too.

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Book cover reveal. I've been sitting on my cover reveal for nearly a month, doodling around like a kid anticipating a
merry-go-round ride. Which it surely is.

Next week, a new book trailer and the cover reveal. I hope
plenty of my blogger buddies will pass the word.

Marketing. Selling
your book begins the day your manuscript is ready for representation. The query starts the game, the sentence or two that entices another person to enter
your world.

Not unlike the Carrion flower that emits a foul dead-meat
stench to attract pollinating flies. (yeah, I know. It's a gift. My brain at work)

Some say luring that first visitor is the hardest part of
the journey. I agree, but it is only one stop on the road to Published. Many
junctions lie ahead. Some are perilous. Especially to introverts such as
myself.

Shouting, Hey, Look at
me, scares me more than anything up to date. The Introvert gene, no doubt.

Back to the journey. You have an agent or, in my case, a
publisher who wants to take you on. Edits add more to that ms
than you ever thought possible. And so begins the real work.

How to sell yourself. Well, boy howdy, it’s another query of course. Just in a little
different form.

With bling and book tours.

Broadcast the news far and
wide.

Facebook author pages,
social networks, blogs. And their upkeep.

Book trailers.

Press release to the local
papers.

Magnets. Postcards.

Pens and posters with your
book cover on it, ready to distribute at book signings.

There is lots to do. But the best part is coming, the cover
reveal.

Next week. Be here for the first look at the cover for Wilder Mage. Sincerely—no bias here—it
is amazing.

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

The release date for Wilder
Mage, book one of The Magic Withheld
is August 30, a three-year project that is finally coming to fruition.

After finishing the
easy stage (little did I know that writing the manuscript was the *easy* part),
I followed the traditional route of agents and queries.

Last year, when I heard
that Musa Publishing was taking
submissions, I shot them a query also. A request for the full manuscript
followed and then a contract. People tell you how thrilling it is but words cannot
come close to my elation.

It has been one heckuva ride since then with many a
loop-de-loop.

But now, Doubt has made an appearance. You know the one I’m
talking about. He’s the fellow rolling his eyes and whispering, “You aren't good enough to join the Published Author club.”

I attempt to ignore my inner monster but Doubt is the roach that slithers into every thought.

I want Wilder Mage
to be the book people read until 2 am because they can’t put it down. In my dreams, they arrive
at work the next day bleary-eyed and still thinking about the main character Justus and the magic he fights to contain.

Doubt says, “Don’t kid yourself.”

I hope for a loyal readership and fan mail. People tell me
they like the first drafts. And heaven knows, my fantabulous editor, Angela
Kelly says she loves it.

“They are only being kind,” Doubt says.

GAHHHHHHHHHH

Maybe all I should hope for is to arrive on the other side
without becoming a total fruitcake.